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Jobs Bounce Back In Bendigo

26 August 2016

Bendigo is in the midst of jobs resurgence, with data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showing sustained employment growth, with more than 6,500 new jobs in the year to July – an increase of 9.5 per cent.

According to the ABS, in the three months to June 2016, the unemployment rate in the Bendigo region has fallen to 6 per cent, down from 6.9 per cent in the three months to November 2014 at the time of the last election.

There are now also approximately 800 less unemployed people in Bendigo than there were at the time of the last election. Full-time employment in the region has also increased by 1,500 persons (+3.6 per cent) compared with the same time last year.

The trend is also encouraging for youth unemployment, with the number of youth unemployed having fallen from 2,500 to 1,100 a 56 per cent fall. The youth unemployment rate has fallen from 17.6 per cent to 9.5 per cent since the last election.

The jobs growth in the Bendigo region is consistent with a strong performance across the state, with Victoria’s unemployment rate currently sitting at 5.9 per cent – and the regional rate at 5.5 per cent.

The level of Victorian employment is more than 150,000 persons higher than in November 2014, with full-time employment up by 111,500 people during the same period – well above the 100,000 full time jobs that we promised Victorians we would create.

Victoria now has the fastest growing full time jobs growth in the nation.

The Back to Work Scheme has also had an impact in Bendigo, with almost 200 claims in the Bendigo region since the scheme commenced last year.

The scheme, introduced to assist those in disadvantaged cohorts including long term unemployed and youth unemployed, has given those who have generally found it difficult to find work a better chance of finding employment or get access to training and be in a better position to find a job.

Quotes attributable to Treasurer Tim Pallas

“We promised that we’d get Victorians back to work, and while there’s always more to do, we’ve got unemployment coming down from the level the previous Government left us with.”

“The Andrews Labor Government is investing throughout Victoria to build a strong economy and in turn drive jobs growth – which means more opportunities for all Victorians, including in Bendigo.”

Quote attributable to Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan

"We’re driving opportunities and creating jobs in Bendigo whether that’s upgrading Napier Street or building a new world class hospital.”

Quote attributable to Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards

"After four years of neglect by the Liberal Government which lead to unemployment going up, strong investment by the Andrews Labor Government has led to increased job opportunities in Bendigo."

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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